Comet Shoemaker-Levy impact on Jupiter, July 1994. Artist's impression of fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 approaching and striking the planet Jupiter. A few fragments of the comet are seen in the foreground. On the planet is a large explosion, caused as one of the fragments disintegrates in Jupiter's atmosphere. Over 20 fragments, each of more than 1 km diameter, are expected to hit the planet on 18-24 July 1994. The comet was broken apart by Jupiter's gravity field during a close encounter in July 1992. The impacts will not be visible directly from Earth, but the effects on the atmosphere will be seen as the impact points rotate into view.